Tennis club Smash has been around since 1991 and is the only association that focuses exclusively on the target group of people with intellectual disabilities. The G-tennis players from South Kennemerland and the Haarlemmermeer play a game of tennis every week. But that requires help. On NH helps is therefore made a call for volunteers.
Without these people there is no training because every player needs personal guidance. Trainer Doert Matthes is enthusiastic: “It is really not only snot and drowsy, because there are those who can hit a good ball! There are also there you have to be patient.”
Matthes still likes to do it: “You see very slowly that people are making progress. You have to be patient and enjoy doing something with and for someone else. It is very grateful work because they are very enthusiastic!”
Many volunteers needed
Wouter Kuster has been a member of Smash for 10 years. He notices that many volunteers have left in recent years: “Also good volunteers that I could play and train with. At some point they get too old, or they get sick or they no longer have time because they have a different job.”
Trainer Bob van Meekeren teaches the G-tennis players two hours a week. “You give lessons but you also ensure that they have fun. It’s a lot of fun to do and you get a lot of positive energy from it yourself.”